US govt norms mandate shackles for flight safety, say Central officials

Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service

At a time of intense backlash in Punjab over US deportation flights landing in Amritsar instead of other locations in the country, government sources on Wednesday said this was not the first time deportation flights had landed in Amritsar.

Sharing details, official sources said between May 19, 2020 and October 25, 2024, as many as 18 flights carrying illegal Indian immigrants had landed in Punjab’s Amritsar.

The latest three US flights that brought Indians back home — on February 5, 15 and 16 — take that number to 21. On a The Tribune query about why deportees continue to be sent home in shackles despite India vowing to take up the issue with the US, government sources pointed to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Air Operations Handbook, which mandates transport of illegal immigrants in handcuffs ensure no passenger poses a threat to himself or to flight safety.

The US Customs handbook under the section “Restraint Requirements” reads, “In accordance with the Use of Restraints policy, effective November 19, 2012, detainees transported by ICE Air aircraft will be fully restrained by the use of handcuffs, waist chains and leg irons during CONUS and OCONUs fights.”CONUS and OCONUS refer to US military flights that travel between the “Continental United States” (CONUS) – meaning the 48 contiguous states and Washington DC — and locations “Outside the Continental United States” (OCONUS), which includes Alaska, Hawaii, and any overseas military bases or destinations.

Incidentally, amid the raging controversy over inhuman treatment of Indian immigrants on the US flights, the White House today posted a clip on X, showing deportees being chained and shackled. The clip, marked “ASMR: Illegal Alien Deportation Flight”, shows deportees chained around legs and waist by US cops before being sent on flights to their respective nations. One deportee is seen in the video boarding the flight with chains on legs.

Asked why US deportation flights are landing in Amritsar — an issue repeatedly flagged by Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann who has accused BJP-ruled Centre of defaming Punjab by sending deportation flights to the state — government sources said, “The reason is higher number of deportees from Punjab. The three US flights that landed in Amritsar between February 5 and 16, brought back 333 Indian immigrants. Of these, 126 are from Punjab. That happens to be the highest,” said an official source.

The government’s break-up list of Indian returnees from the US, shared today, shows 126 of the 333 deportees (37.8%) are from Punjab; 110 (33%) from Haryana; 74 (22.2%) from Gujarat; 8 (2.4%) from UP; five from Maharashtra (1.5%); two each from Himachal Pradesh, Goa and Chandigarh and one each from J&K and Uttarakhand. The break-up further shows that so far 262 men, 42 women, 29 children (18 boys; 11 girls) have returned from the US with their families.

BJP general secretary Tarun Chugh, who hails from Amritsar, said the AAP government in the state must stop politicising the issue and apprehend traffickers who played with the lives of lakhs of innocent youth. “Bhagwant Mann needs to answer who has been sending the innocent youth of Punjab illegally to the US and why are they not being caught. Why are there no jobs in Punjab? Which traffickers spoiled their lives and forced them to sell lands and houses. What did Mann do against these traffickers?” he said.

‘Chose Punjab landing as max from state’

An official source said the Amritsar airport was chosen for the landing of the flights as the maximum 126 deportees belonged to Punjab. The three US flights that landed in Amritsar between February 5 and 16 brought back 333 Indian immigrants from that country

The third edition of the India-Egypt Joint Special Forces exercise, CYCLONE-III, is currently taking place at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan. This 14-day military drill began on February 10, 2025, and is scheduled to conclude on February 23, 2025.

Key Features of CYCLONE-III

Joint Training Focus: The exercise emphasises various critical skills, including:

Close Quarter Battle (CQB) drills

Survival techniques

Demolition training

Combat medical skills

These high-intensity drills aim to enhance the soldiers’ effectiveness in responding to complex operational scenarios, particularly in desert and semi-desert environments.

The training sessions are designed to improve agility, endurance, and precision among troops from both nations, fostering seamless cooperation during real-world combat situations. The exercise culminates in a rigorous 48-hour validation phase, where participants will conduct simulated Counter-Terrorism operations.

CYCLONE-III serves as a platform for showcasing India’s indigenous defense capabilities while enhancing diplomatic and military ties between India and Egypt. This collaboration not only strengthens tactical capabilities but also reinforces the strategic partnership focused on counter-terrorism and regional security.

The ongoing exercise highlights the commitment of both nations to operational excellence and their readiness for joint missions in challenging environments.

ANI

Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi has expressed concerns regarding the presence of the Pakistan Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in Bangladesh. Dwivedi mentioned that India is closely monitoring the situation and will take appropriate actions when required.

Reports indicate that the ISI is seeking to re-establish its presence in strategic areas of Bangladesh, potentially threatening India’s security. These areas, including Cox’s Bazar, Ukhia, Teknaf, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, and Sherpur, were part of East Pakistan before Bangladesh’s formation in 1971. Before 1971, the Pakistan army had a presence in these strategic areas and supported insurgent groups active in northeastern states like Nagaland and Mizoram, creating challenges for India.

In an interview with ANI, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi referred to Pakistan as the “epicentre of terrorism,” emphasising India’s concern that Pakistan should not be able to use its territory to send terrorists into India. He stated, “I had used the word epicentre of terrorism for a particular country (Pakistan). Now those countrymen, if they go to any other place and they happen to be our neighbour, as far as I am concerned, I should be concerned about it. That they should not be able to use that soil to send terrorists to India. That is as far as that is concerned”

The ISI’s efforts involve collaborating with pro-Islamist and pro-Jamaat factions within the Bangladesh Army. This has raised concerns about potential infiltration and the use of these bases as training grounds for insurgent groups targeting India.

General Dwivedi told ANI that Pakistan’s agenda extends beyond Kashmir and is focused on fuelling an anti-India stance. He stated that “the idea of India is their major criticality” and that an anti-India stance is the common agenda that unifies Pakistan. Dwivedi added that Pakistan will continue to emphasize Kashmir to maintain this agenda.

Dwivedi’s statements came in response to a question about whether Pakistan has accepted Kashmir as part of India. He used an analogy from the movie ‘Guide’ to illustrate Pakistan’s position, saying they are stuck in their stance like a madman who refused to eat until it rained. Dwivedi also referenced Robert Kaplan’s book ‘Revenge of Geography,’ questioning whether both sides of the Indus could ever be one.

ANI

The HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) is poised for induction into the Indian Armed Forces, marking a significant milestone in India’s pursuit of military self-reliance. This helicopter was showcased prominently at Aero India 2025, where it impressed attendees with its advanced capabilities and indigenous design.

https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?gdpr=0&client=ca-pub-5761017298734489&output=html&h=400&slotname=1997097661&adk=3538990993&adf=1769029682&pi=t.ma~as.1997097661&w=580&abgtt=6&lmt=1740009971&format=580×400&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indiandefensenews.in%2F2025%2F02%2Fhal-light-utility-helicopter-all-set.html&host=ca-host-pub-

The LUH is entirely designed and manufactured in India, aligning with the “Make in India” initiative. All components are produced at HAL’s facility in Tumkur, Karnataka, ensuring complete domestic production and reducing reliance on foreign technology.

Technical Specifications:

Maximum Speed: 235 km/h

Operational Range: 350 km

Service Ceiling: Capable of flying at altitudes exceeding 20,000 feet, making it suitable for high-altitude operations like those in Siachen.

Payload Capacity: Can carry up to 500 kg or accommodate 10 personnel.

Operational Roles: The LUH is versatile, designed for various missions including troop transport, cargo movement, reconnaissance, surveillance, and search-and-rescue operations.

The HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) is a 3-ton class helicopter designed for various missions, including emergency medical services, troop transport, utility, search and rescue, and reconnaissance. It features a fully-powered flight control system and a glass cockpit with a Smart Cockpit Display System (SCDS). The LUH also incorporates a state-of-the-art Health & Usage Monitoring System (HUMS).

It is powered by a single 750 KW rated Shakti-1U turboshaft engine derived from Safran Ardiden, co-developed by HAL and Turbomeca. it has a four-bladed foldable hinge-less main rotor and a four-bladed composite bearing-less tail rotor. The hinge-less rotor system ensures high agility and manoeuvrability.

The helicopter supports a dual-channel Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system along with a backup fuel control system. The flight control system and autopilot software are supported by Safran Electronics.

It features a skid-based landing gear arrangement. LUH is the only helicopter in the 3-ton class to have foldable rotors. HAL plans to increase the indigenous content to over 60 percent with supplies from many Indian companies.

LUH has a glass cockpit configuration called Smart Cockpit Display System (SCDS) which is equipped with 3 Smart Multi-Function Displays (SMFD).

HAL is also developing the HTSE-1200 to replace Shakti-1U engines with an indigenous solution.

The HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) is the latest helicopter design to flow from the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv. The Dhruv is a utility helicopter designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Its development started in 1984, it first flew in 1992, and it entered service in 2002. The LUH appears to be a smaller version of the ALH, using a single engine. The LUH is a 3-ton helicopter, while the Dhruv is a 5.5-ton helicopter and looks nearly two-thirds its volume.

The HAL Rudra, also known as ALH-WSI, is an armed version of the Dhruv. Nearly 100 Rudras are flying, and 75 more are on order. The HAL Prachand is a multi-role light combat helicopter (LCH) that evolved from the experience gained from the Rudra. Nineteen Prachand helicopters have been built and are in service with the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Army (IA), with 156 more planned. The Prachand LCH is India’s first indigenously developed combat helicopter with ground attack and aerial combat capabilities. It can destroy enemy defences, conduct search and rescue missions, engage in anti-tank operations, and perform scouting missions.

The HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) was designed and developed by the Rotary Wing Research and Design Centre (RWR&DC), a division of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The LUH is intended to replace the aging Cheetah and Chetak helicopters in service with the Indian Army (IA) and the Indian Air Force (IAF). The need to replace these aging helicopters was recognized as an impending need during the 1990s and 2000s.

The HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) has achieved several milestones. In January 2019, the LUH successfully completed cold weather trials. Between August 24 and September 2, 2019, high altitude hot weather trials were also successfully completed. By February 7, 2020, three prototypes had cumulatively performed over 550 flights, and the LUH received its Initial Operational Clearance (IOC). The Army completed its Initial Acceptance Trial on October 7, 2021, and HAL LUH is now ready for induction by the Indian Armed Forces.

The HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) is nearing the final stages of its development and certification process, with significant milestones achieved recently.

The Indian Army requested a final demonstration trial before the LUH enters mass production. This trial was completed on September 9, 2020, and included evaluations of envelope expansion, performance, flying qualities, payload capacity, and landing capabilities at high altitudes in the Siachen Glacier region.

As of January 2025, the flight control system software from Safran Electronics is undergoing certification. Once this is completed, the LUH will be ready for production. The aircraft has already met all Preliminary Joint Services Qualitative Requirements (PJSQR) set by the Armed Forces.

The LUH showcased its capabilities with an acrobatic display at Aero India 2025, further demonstrating its readiness for operational deployment.

The Indian Armed Forces have plans to procure between 175 to 400 production variant helicopters. A contract for 12 Limited Series Production (LSP) variants has been approved, with expectations for delivery to begin in the second quarter of 2025. The mass production will take place at HAL’s new facility in Tumkur.

The LUH is designed to replace aging helicopters like the Chetak and Cheetah, addressing a significant gap in the Indian Army’s light helicopter fleet.

Induction Timeline And Production Plans

HAL has set an ambitious target to produce over 1,000 LUH helicopters over the next two decades. The initial deliveries are expected to commence soon, with the first six helicopters being delivered in phases from December 2024 through June 2025. This induction will gradually replace the aging Cheetah and Chetak helicopters currently used by the Indian Air Force.

Significance

The LUH’s induction is a crucial step towards enhancing India’s military capabilities, particularly in challenging terrains. It reflects a broader strategy to bolster indigenous defense production and reduce dependency on foreign military equipment. The successful development and impending deployment of the LUH signify India’s commitment to advancing its aerospace sector and achieving greater self-reliance in defence technology.

HAL’s Light Utility Helicopter represents a significant leap forward for India’s defence capabilities, showcasing indigenous innovation and reinforcing the country’s strategic objectives in military aviation.

This piece was written by Air Marshal Anil Chopra (Retd) for First Post

The year was 1857, and Bharat was ablaze. The great uprising—what the British tried to dismiss as a mere “mutiny”—was, in truth, a war for independence. From Delhi to Kanpur, from Lucknow to Jhansi, the sons of Bharat rose as one, determined to reclaim their land from foreign rule.

Among these warriors were the 282 soldiers of the 26th Native Bengal Infantry, stationed at Mian Meer (now in Pakistan). They had taken an oath to fight for Bharat, to stand against the tyranny of the British. And so, when the moment came, they killed their British officers and began their march toward Delhi.

But fate had other plans.

As they followed the Ravi River, moving through Punjab, the locals aided them, feeding them, hiding them, guiding them on their way. But treachery lurked in the shadows. A British informer betrayed their location to Frederic Cooper, the Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar.

And so began the dark chapter of the Ajnala Massacre.

Betrayal, Slaughter, and the Well of Death

Cooper, an Englishman desperate to make a name for himself, assembled a regiment of British forces and marched toward Ajnala. There, in the dead of night, they ambushed the unsuspecting soldiers.

Some warriors were killed on the spot, their blood staining the soil they had fought for. But 282 were captured alive.

They were crammed into a small, suffocating room. There was no air, no water, no escape.

By morning, 35 of them were dead, their breath stolen by the crushing weight of their comrades. They had suffocated in the darkness, fighting till their last moment for a breath of air.

But Cooper was not done.

He dragged the remaining 247 out, their hands tied behind their backs. He lined them up in groups of ten, and without hesitation, ordered their execution.

The British officers stood at point-blank range and fired into their skulls. But even in their death, the warriors did not break. Some clutched tightly to their murtis of Bhagwan Shiva and Hanuman, their faith giving them strength even in the face of death​.

For the British, bullets were too precious. So, in an act of pure cruelty, some soldiers were shot with stone bullets. These were not meant to kill instantly—they were meant to shatter bones, rupture flesh, prolong agony​.
And then, the final horror—the well.

The lifeless and dying bodies were dragged across the bloodied ground and thrown into a deep well—a pit of darkness that would become their unmarked grave. Some were still gasping for breath, their bodies broken but their spirits unyielding.
The British, not satisfied, poured lime and charcoal into the well, ensuring that the bodies would decay faster, erasing all evidence​.
Then, silence.
The massacre was complete. The British erased their names, wiped them from history, and ensured no one would remember.
But history, like truth, cannot remain buried forever.

Alam Beg, a soldier from Kanpur, escaped Ajnala’s massacre but was later captured. The British reserved a fate worse than death for him—execution by cannon.
His severed head was taken as a trophy to England, where it was later found in a British pub, forgotten, with a chilling note on his eyeball socket:
“I am Alam Beg. I revolted against the British government. I am a traitor.”
His family, traced to New Delhi, still waits to perform his last rites. But the British refuse to return his remains.

The Man Who Refused to Forget: Surinder Kochhar’s Obsession
For 150 years, the Ajnala Massacre remained hidden. No history books spoke of it. No memorial stood for the martyrs.
Then, in 2003, fate intervened.
Surinder Kochhar, a journalist from Ajnala, was wandering the streets of London when he stumbled upon an old book in a second-hand shop. He flipped through the pages, and then—his heart stopped.

Ajnala.

The book was written by Frederic Cooper himself, the very man who had ordered the massacre. And in its pages, he boasted of his crime.
Kochhar could not believe what he had found. He bought the book, returned to Bharat, and began searching for the well.
But history had been buried too well.
There were no records. No official acknowledgment. No map marking the location of the well.
Yet, history is never truly forgotten—it lingers in whispers, in the memories of the old. Kochhar spoke to elders, and some remembered.
“Our ancestors spoke of a well… a well of bones… the British killed them and dumped them inside.”
And so, the search intensified.

By 2013, after years of relentless pursuit, Kochhar found the well. But there was one problem—a Gurudwara had been built over it.
Removing a religious structure was no easy task. Kochhar met with the Gurudwara committee, pleading with them to move the structure, explaining the truth.

Finally, after much struggle, they agreed to shift it 100 meters away​.
But even then, no one listened.
Kochhar wrote to the Indian government, the Archaeological Survey of India, the Prime Minister’s Office—no one responded​.
So, he took matters into his own hands.

The Digging: A Moment of Truth
On February 28, 2014, Kochhar and his volunteers began digging.
But after six feet, there was nothing. The volunteers wanted to stop.
And then, Kochhar made his legendary statement:
“If the remains do not come out, bury me and my family right here.”
The digging continued.
And then—the bones began to emerge.

1. 90 skulls
2. 170 jawbones
3. Over 5,000 teeth
4. Coins, medals, murtis of Bhagwan Shiva and Hanuman

The truth had been found.

But this was not done scientifically. So there was a lot of damage. Additionally, if the ASI and Government had acted, the well could’ve been turned into a live museum.

Science vs. Lies: The Fight for Truth
The British had tried to erase them. And now, so-called historians with an agenda tried to distort the truth.
They said:
“These were victims of 1947 Partition.”
“These were British soldiers killed by Indians.”
“These were random villagers.”
But science crushed these lies​.
DNA testing by Dr. Gyaneshwer Chaubey, Dr. J.S. Sehrawat, Dr Niraj Rai and Dr. K. Thangaraj proved:

1. The remains belonged to South Asians from the Gangetic Plains.
2. They matched the soldiers of the 26th Native Bengal Infantry.
3. Forensic evidence showed they were executed at point-blank range​.

Truth had won.

The Struggle to Perform the Last Rites
Even after 150 years, the fight is not for revenge but for dharma.
My professor, Dr. Gyaneshwer Chaubey, and his team of scientists are still working tirelessly to trace the families of these martyrs. Their goal? To give them their last rites according to Sanatana Dharma​ (for Hindus) and Islam (for Muslims).
But the British government continues to deny our requests for their names. They meticulously keep all records, yet refuse to release this one.
This is a continuation of their colonial grip on our minds. They wiped out the names so that we would forget. They still refuse to acknowledge the 1857 war as a national uprising.

The Fight for Justice Is Not Over

As Veer Savarkar wrote in The Indian War of Independence 1857:
“The war begun on the 10th of May 1857 is not over… nor can it ever cease till our Motherland stands free!”​.
It is time for all Bharatiyas (Hindus and Muslims) whose forefathers fought together in the 1857 war, to come together.

We must demand that the Indian government put pressure on Britain.
The British meticulously document everything—then why are they not releasing the names?
This is not just a fight for history.
This is a fight for dharma, for justice, for Bharat.
The war is not over until we do not stand free of the colonial burdens.
It will be on until the last rites are done.

Two Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) were killed in an accident in Ladakh, officials said on Tuesday. Subedar Santosh Kumar and Naib Subedar Sunil Kumar died due to bursting of a water tank at a camp in Nyoma area, 150 km…

Two Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) were killed in an accident in Ladakh, officials said on Tuesday. Subedar Santosh Kumar and Naib Subedar Sunil Kumar died due to bursting of a water tank at a camp in Nyoma area, 150 km from Leh in southern Ladakh, the official said. They said that a police investigation is underway in the incident which occurred on Sunday.

While the exact cause of accident is still not known, a statement by the Fire and Fury Corps based in Ladakh read, “GOC, Fire and Fury Corps and all ranks salute Subedar Santosh Kumar and Naib Subedar Sunil Kumar, who made supreme sacrifice in the line of duty in Ladakh on February 16, and offer deep condolences to the bereaved families in this hour of grief.”

Northern Army commander Lt Gen Suchindra Kumar saluted the supreme sacrifice of the fallen soldiers.

“Lt Gen Kumar and all ranks of Dhruva Command salute the supreme sacrifice of bravehearts Sub Santosh Kumar and Nb Sub Sunil Kumar who laid down their lives in the line of duty in Ladakh,” the northern command wrote on X on Tuesday.

Sources informed that both the soldiers were part of Unit 71 of Engineer Regiment.

Row over martyr’s school reeks of intolerance

An abominable attempt has been made to erase the memory of a martyr — and that too a Param Vir Chakra awardee. Six decades after Company Quarter Master Havildar Abdul Hamid took on the might of Patton tanks and made the supreme sacrifice in the 1965 India-Pakistan war, his family had to fight a battle of its own to get his name reinstated at the main gate of his school in Ghazipur district of Uttar Pradesh. ‘Shaheed Hamid Vidyalaya’ was not good enough for the authorities; they not only renamed it ‘PM Shri Composite School’ but also promptly effected the change at the entrance to the institution. The outraged kin complained to the headmaster, who asked them to approach the local education officer. The glaring omission has finally been rectified, but the whole controversy reeks of religious intolerance and insensitivity.

Havildar Hamid’s award citation mentions in glowing terms that his bravery “in the face of constant enemy fire was in the highest traditions of the Army”. Naam, namak, nishan — these words sum up the code of honour of the Indian defence forces. The Indian Army, Air Force and Navy are secular organisations — their officers and soldiers serve the nation with pride irrespective of their religion, caste, creed or gender. The entire country owes gratitude to bravehearts like Hamid, not just the community to

Degrading a war hero simply because he professed a certain religion shows how deep the communal rot runs. Exemplary action should be taken against overzealous officials who stooped so low. They were apparently trying to please their political bosses and chose a soft target. Thankfully, the widespread uproar has exposed their nefarious designs. The incident should serve as a warning to the political leadership and the bureaucracy to desist from chipping away at the military’s apolitical ethos.

Topa Pir village in Poonch has witnessed significant events over the past year, including the deaths of three local men in alleged Army custody and efforts to guide young children towards joining the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC). The village,…

Topa Pir village in Poonch has witnessed significant events over the past year, including the deaths of three local men in alleged Army custody and efforts to guide young children towards joining the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC). The village, predominantly inhabited by the nomadic Gujjar community, has been at the centre of these developments.

In December 2023, three local men were detained by the Army for questioning following an ambush on an Army vehicle that resulted in the deaths of four soldiers. The deaths of the three men and the circulation of a viral video showing their interrogation sparked significant concern among the government and the Army. In response, the Army adopted the village and initiated various developmental works in the area.

On Tuesday, the Army organised an awareness lecture at Topa Pir village to inform students about opportunities to join the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) and Sainik School. The goal of the event was to raise awareness about the importance of education and the government’s initiatives to guide students in making informed decisions about their academic and career paths.

“The aim of the event was to create awareness amongst students about the importance and significance of literacy and various initiatives by the government for education and to understand the various degree options available to make informed decisions,” an Army spokesperson said.

During the event, a representative of the Army addressed the students, highlighting the region’s untapped potential. “He also conveyed to the locals that tremendous potential in terms of talented and academically bright students is available in the region, however, due to lack of proper guidance, they fail to harness their full potential. Keeping this in perspective, the interaction was carried out to tap the raw potential from these students and urge them to join Armed Forces through RIMC, Sainik School and other educational institutions, as well as through Pre-Commissioning Training Academies,” the spokesperson added.

The session also discussed modalities for guidance, coaching and assistance for students interested in joining the Armed Forces.

The video has sparked a debate over the responsibilities of governments in handling such sensitive matters

In India, several deportees shared their agonising experiences, stating that they were subjected to physical restraints—both handcuffs and leg chains—throughout their flight from the US back to India, only being unshackled after arrival in Amritsar.

This experience, which they described as traumatic, has raised concerns about the treatment of deportees and the ethics behind such visual representation.

Amid the backlash, the White House on Tuesday posted a video showing immigrants in shackles, preparing to board a deportation flight from Seattle in the United States.

The 41-second video, posted on X, shows a man putting on handcuffs and chains on some immigrants. It also shows a close-up of a man having his handcuffs linked together, a man’s feet in chains as he walks up a stairway to a plane, and a man about to board the aircraft. The video did not show the faces of any of the men.

Before the White House, the video was shared by the Seattle office of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, which captioned it “Removal Flight” and wrote, “A group of undocumented aliens are flown from Seattle as part of a process to finalise return to their home countries.”

Also , Elon Musk reposted to the White House tweet, writing, “Haha Wow”